IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,510,932
Granted Patent B2
US 12,510,932 · App. 18/905,374 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Display device

Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata (Ebina, JP); Hiroyuki Miyake (Atsugi, JP); Seiko Inoue (Isehara, JP); Shunpei Yamazaki (Setagaya, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
G06F1/1652G06F3/041G06F2203/04102
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,510,932
App. No.
18/905,374
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device with low power consumption is provided. Furthermore, a display device in which an image is displayed in a region that can be used in a folded state is provided. The conceived display device includes a display portion that can be opened and folded, a sensing portion that senses a folded state of the display portion, and an image processing portion that generates, when the display portion is in the folded state, an image in which a black image is displayed in part of the display portion.

Claims (160)

1 . A display device comprising:

a display panel, the display panel comprising:

a substrate;

a transistor over the substrate, a channel formation region of the transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor; and

a light-emitting element electrically connected to the transistor;

a first support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a second support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a third support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a fourth support panel overlapping with the first support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a fifth support panel overlapping with the third support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a sixth support panel overlapping with the second support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a first hinge overlapping with the display panel; and

a second hinge overlapping with the display panel,

wherein the first hinge is configured to connect the first support panel and the second support panel,

wherein the second hinge is configured to connect the second support panel and the third support panel,

wherein, in an opened state of the display device, the display panel comprises a first display region overlapping with the first support panel, a second display region overlapping with the second support panel, a third display region overlapping with the third support panel, a fourth display region overlapping with the first hinge, and a fifth display region overlapping with the second hinge,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent inwards at the fourth display region,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent outwards at the fifth display region,

wherein, in a first folded state of the display device, each of the first display region, the second display region, and the fourth display region is not visible by a user,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fourth display region is provided between the first display region and the second display region,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fifth display region is provided between the second display region and the third display region,

wherein the fourth support panel is provided on a display side of the display panel around a first side of the display panel, a second side of the display panel, and a third side of the display panel,

wherein the fifth support panel is provided on the display side of the display panel around the first side of the display panel, the second side of the display panel, and a fourth side of the display panel,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the first display region, the second display region, the third display region, the fourth display region, and the fifth display region are visible by the user,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the first display region faces the second display region,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region and the fifth display region are visible by the user, and

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region overlaps with the first display region and the second display region.

2 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet, and

wherein the sensing portion senses the first folded state of the display device.

3 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the sensing portion faces the second support panel, and

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the magnet faces the first support panel.

4 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensing portion,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device, and

wherein the display device is configured to display a black image in the first display region, the second display region, and the third display region, when the sensing portion has determined that the display device is in the first folded state.

5 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fourth support panel, the fifth support panel, the sixth support panel, and a second member overlapping with the fourth support panel do not overlap with a display region of the display device panel.

6 . The display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the first hinge is exposed between the first support panel and the second support panel, and

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the second hinge is exposed between the second support panel and the third support panel.

7 . A display device comprising:

a display panel, the display panel comprising:

a substrate;

a transistor over the substrate, a channel formation region of the transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor; and

a light-emitting element electrically connected to the transistor;

a first support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a second support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a third support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a fourth support panel overlapping with the first support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a fifth support panel overlapping with the third support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a sixth support panel overlapping with the second support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a first hinge overlapping with the display panel;

a second hinge overlapping with the display panel;

a first member overlapping with the display panel and the first support panel; and

a second member overlapping with the fourth support panel,

wherein the first hinge is configured to connect the first support panel and the second support panel,

wherein the second hinge is configured to connect the second support panel and the third support panel,

wherein, in an opened state of the display device, the display panel comprises a first display region overlapping with the first support panel, a second display region overlapping with the second support panel, a third display region overlapping with the third support panel, a fourth display region overlapping with the first hinge, and a fifth display region overlapping with the second hinge,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent inwards at the fourth display region,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent outwards at the fifth display region,

wherein, in a first folded state of the display device, each of the first display region, the second display region, and the fourth display region is not visible by a user,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fourth display region is provided between the first display region and the second display region,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fifth display region is provided between the second display region and the third display region,

wherein the fourth support panel is provided on a display side of the display panel around a first side of the display panel, a second side of the display panel, and a third side of the display panel,

wherein the fifth support panel is provided on the display side of the display panel around the first side of the display panel, the second side of the display panel, and a fourth side of the display panel,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the first display region, the second display region, the third display region, the fourth display region, and the fifth display region are visible by the user,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the first display region faces the second display region,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region and the fifth display region are visible by the user,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region overlaps with the first display region and the second display region,

wherein the first member is provided between the first support panel and the display panel, and

wherein the second member is provided on the display side of the display panel below the fourth support panel.

8 . The display device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet, and

wherein the sensing portion senses the first folded state of the display device.

9 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the second member overlaps with the first member.

10 . The display device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the sensing portion faces the second support panel, and

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the magnet faces the first support panel.

11 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the first member comprises a metal.

12 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein, in the opened state of the display device, a portion of the second member is exposed in a region between the first support panel and the second support panel.

13 . The display device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a sensing portion,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device, and

wherein the display device is configured to display a black image in the first display region, the second display region, and the third display region, when the sensing portion has determined that the display device is in the first folded state.

14 . A display device comprising:

a display panel;

a first support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a second support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a third support panel overlapping with the display panel;

a fourth support panel overlapping with the first support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a fifth support panel overlapping with the third support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a sixth support panel overlapping with the second support panel with the display panel provided therebetween;

a first hinge overlapping with the display panel;

a second hinge overlapping with the display panel;

a first member overlapping with the display panel and the first support panel; and

a second member overlapping with the fourth support panel,

wherein the first hinge is configured to connect the first support panel and the second support panel,

wherein the second hinge is configured to connect the second support panel and the third support panel,

wherein, in an opened state of the display device, the display panel comprises a first display region overlapping with the first support panel, a second display region overlapping with the second support panel, a third display region overlapping with the third support panel, a fourth display region overlapping with the first hinge, and a fifth display region overlapping with the second hinge,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent at the fourth display region,

wherein the display panel is configured to be bent at the fifth display region,

wherein, in a first folded state of the display device, the fourth display region does not overlap with the fifth display region,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, each of the first display region, the second display region, and the fourth display region is not visible by a user,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fourth display region is provided between the first display region and the second display region,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the fifth display region is provided between the second display region and the third display region,

wherein the fourth support panel is provided on a display side of the display panel along the first display region,

wherein the fifth support panel is provided on the display side of the display panel along the third display region,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the first display region, the second display region, the third display region, the fourth display region, and the fifth display region are visible by the user,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the first display region faces the second display region,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region and the fifth display region are visible by the user,

wherein, in the opened state of the display device, the third display region is configured to display an image,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the third display region overlaps with the first display region and the second display region,

wherein the first member is provided between the first support panel and the display panel, and

wherein the second member is provided on the display side of the display panel along a first side of the display panel.

15 . The display device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet, and

wherein the sensing portion senses the first folded state of the display device.

16 . The display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the second member overlaps with the first member, and

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device and in the opened state of the display device, the second member overlaps with the fourth support panel and does not overlap with a display region of the display panel.

17 . The display device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a sensing portion; and

a magnet,

wherein the sensing portion overlaps with the first support panel,

wherein the magnet overlaps with the second support panel,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the display device is configured to keep the first folded state by using magnetic force of the magnet,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device,

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the sensing portion faces the second support panel, and

wherein, in the first folded state of the display device, the magnet faces the first support panel.

18 . The display device according to claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a metal.

19 . The display device according to claim 14 , wherein, in the opened state of the display device, a portion of the second member is exposed in a region between the first support panel and the second support panel.

20 . The display device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a sensing portion,

wherein the sensing portion is configured to sense the first folded state of the display device, and

wherein the display device is configured to display a black image in the first display region, the second display region, and the third display region, when the sensing portion has determined that the display device is in the first folded state.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-161577 · Aug 2, 2013 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 18522350 · Nov 29, 2023
Continuation 17585680 · Jan 27, 2022
Continuation 17109420 · Dec 2, 2020
Continuation 15986099 · May 22, 2018
Continuation 14444799 · Jul 28, 2014
Related Publication 20250076932A1 · Mar 6, 2025
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